The Sun
Sunnyvale's Newspaper

Patrick Salinas

More crimes linked to the suspect in arson case

Judge moves case to San Jose; investigation remains open

By Justin Berton

Patrick Salinas, the Sunnyvale resident suspected of torching and burglarizing a string of apartments in Santa Clara County, could be charged with 12 additional burglaries, according to police officials.

Salinas was expected to enter a plea at Sunnyvale Municipal Court Friday morning, but his acting attorney requested the venue be moved to a larger facility in San Jose.

Judge Jerald A. Infantino agreed and scheduled Salinas' plea to be heard in San Jose on Thursday Aug. 20.

Despite the arrest, Sunnyvale investigators have kept the case open and are pursuing other suspects.

In the meantime, Sunnyvale investigators believe they have linked Salinas to 12 other burglaries in the city, according to Sunnyvale Fire Marshall Byron Pipkin.

Pipkin would not elaborate on the findings, but did say he expected the charges to be included at Thursday's plea.

Deputy District Attorney Joyce Ferris-Metcalf would not comment on the pos sible additional charges.

Salinas has been charged with 14 counts of burglary, 12 counts of arson and one charge of attempted arson.

According to court records from Santa Clara County Superior Court, Salinas was charged earlier this year with a residential burglary in Milpitas. He failed to appear for trial in July, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Salinas was convicted in 1993 of attempted extortion but failed to appear for sentencing. He was later arrested and served nine months in county jail.

At his Sunnyvale hearing, Salinas entered through the back entrance of the municipal courthouse in shackles around his feet and hands. He did not make an appearance inside the courtroom.

Dennis Lempert, who represented Salinas at the hearing, said he asked the judge to move the case to San Jose where the courtroom facilities could accommodate the expected number of witnesses and participants in the trial.

"These courtrooms are not capable of handling a large case like this," Lempert said.

Salinas was arrested Aug. 6 as he drove away from his parents' residence in the Casa de Amigos mobile home park near Tasman Drive and Lawrence Expressway.

Investigators said they removed a stockpile of VCRs, computers, and electronics from the mobile home, items police believe were stolen property from the pillaged apartments.

Salinas, who police described as an unemployed computer technician, moved into his parents' mobile home three months ago with his girlfriend and two children, according to a neighbor.

[ Back to Contents Page | Sunnyvale Sun Home Page | Archives ]

This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, August 19, 1998.
©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.